2021-22 University Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Social Work, M.S.W.
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(64 credits)
NY State Program Code: 29270
HEGIS Code: 2104.00
CIP Code: 44.0701
Highly ranked M.S.W. programs at convenient locations.
The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program offers the preparation you need for advanced professional social work practice. Our foundation curriculum provides the knowledge, skills, values and ethics essential to all forms and levels of generalist social work practice. In your advanced year, you will complete a concentration in advanced, contemporary direct practice, —and prepare to be a social work practitioner using sophisticated clinical skills in work with individuals, small groups, families and couples. In addition to the concentration, students entering the advanced year of study may opt to specialize in one of four areas: Health Across the Life Course; Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Trauma in Context; Children & Families or Human Services Management and Organizational Leadership. Descriptions of these specializations follow the M.S.W. curriculum section.
Organization and Structure of the Curriculum
All students in the foundation year of the Adelphi University M.S.W. degree program are required to take the same ten courses. Eight of the ten are academic courses, and two are supervised field internships where you apply theories learned in class to direct practice with clients. The ten required foundation classes are distributed as follows:
- two courses in social welfare policy
- two courses in human behavior theory
- two courses in foundations of social work practice
- one course in diversity, oppression and cultural influences in social work practice
- one course in methods of empirical research
- a foundation year supervised field internship
In the advanced year of the Master of Social Work program, all students must complete ten courses, two of which are supervised field internships. The eight remaining second-year classroom courses are distributed as follows:
- two courses in advanced social work practice
- one course in assessment and diagnosis from a social work perspective
- one course in advanced social work research
- one course in the organizational context for professional practice
- an integrative elective
- a clinical elective
- one additional elective
- an advanced year supervised field internship
Courses of Study
Our practice methods sequence will prepare you for direct work with individuals, couples, families, groups and communities. The courses cover:
- theoretical models
- empirical bases
- values and ethics
- professional skills
There’s also a field education component to all Adelphi social work programs. The field practicum is where you put your practice methods to use—integrating your knowledge as you assess needs, set goals and intervene with clients to achieve those goals.
Our human behavior and social environment courses provide foundational knowledge about the determinants of human behavior, including:
- biological determinants
- psychological determinants
- social determinants
Our social work research courses instill a scientific approach to practice and provide the tools required to:
- systematically evaluate a social work practice and its services
- build a professional knowledge base
- critically evaluate professional literature, as well as the literature of other disciplines
- assess the effectiveness of one’s own practice
Finally, social welfare policy and organization courses teach you about the social policies, programs and organizations that provide services and shape a professional practice. You’ll learn to direct social programs through:
- development
- design
- implementation
- evaluation
The Master of Social Work program provides the preparation necessary for advanced professional social work practice. The degree is 64 credits. The foundation curriculum provides the knowledge, skills, values, and ethics essential to all forms and levels of generalist social work practice. In the advanced year of the program all students complete a concentration in contemporary, direct practice and are prepared to be advanced social work practitioners using sophisticated clinical skills in work with individuals, small groups, families, and couples. Students may select an optional specialization in the advanced year of study. Currently, specializations will not appear on the final transcript. Specializations include:
- Health Across the Life Course
- Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Trauma in Context
- Children & Families
- Human Services Management and Organizational Leadership
Organization and Structure of the Curriculum
All students in the foundation year of the Adelphi University M.S.W. program are required to take the same ten courses. Eight of the 10 are academic courses and two are supervised field internships in which students apply theories learned in class to direct practice with clients. The ten required foundation classes are distributed as follows: two consider social welfare policy; two examine theories of human behavior; two present theories of social work practice; one teaches about diversity, oppression, and cultural influences in social work practice; one teaches the methods of empirical research; and two provide supervised Field Instruction.
In the advanced year of their M.S.W. program, all students at Adelphi University must complete ten courses, two of which are supervised field internships. The eight remaining second-year classroom courses are distributed as follows: two courses in advanced social work practice; one course in assessment and diagnosis from a social work perspective; one course in advanced social work research; one course in the organizational context for professional practice; an integrative elective course; a clinical elective and one elective.
The social work practice methods sequence teaches the theoretical models, empirical bases, values and ethics, and skills that are required for direct work with individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities. These courses are reinforced by the field practicum as students put to use and integrate their newly gained knowledge about how to assess needs, set goals, and intervene with clients to achieve those goals. The human behavior and social environment courses provide foundation knowledge about the biological, psychological, and social determinants of human behavior that are essential to assessing the needs clients have, understanding their situation, and selecting intervention strategies. The social work practice methods and human behavior and the social environment courses are interrelated: a method of practice could not be taught without understanding the complex underpinnings of human behavior. The social work research courses instill a scientific approach to practice and provide the tools required to systematically evaluate social work practice and services, build the professional knowledge base, critically evaluate the professional literature as well as that of other disciplines, and assess the effectiveness of one’s own practice.
The social welfare policy and organization courses impart knowledge about the social policies, programs, and organizations that provide services and shape professional practice. They teach the theory, empirical data, values, and skills necessary to the development, design, implementation, and evaluation of social programs.
There is also a Field Instruction component to all Adelphi Social Work programs. Please read the Bulletin section on Field Instruction or go to socialwork.adelphi.edu/field for more information.
M.S.W. Program Options
The plan of study for the Full-Time Two-Year M.S.W. Program listed is the standard program for students who maintain full-time status over two years. While many students take courses on a part-time basis, the sequencing of courses and requirements is universal. All students must complete requirements within four years of matriculation and fulfill residency requirements by enrolling in ten or more credits in two successive semesters.
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Plan of Study
(64 credits)
Foundation Year
(32 credits) Fall Semester
(16 credits) Spring Semester
(16 credits) Advanced Year
(32 credits)
In their advanced year, students complete a concentration in contemporary direct practice. The concentration is comprised of Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals, Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups, Advanced Social Work Practice with Families and Couples, Social Work Assessment and Diagnosis, Social Work Research II, Organizational Context for Professional Practice, and the field internship. Students must take three electives to meet the degree requirements. At least one must be designated as integrative and at least one must be designated as clinical. Students may elect to take their clinical and integrative electives during the advanced year. Some electives meet both designations. If an elective meets both designations, students may choose any two additional electives of their choice. Students electing to specialize select their area of interest at this time. Specializations require a field placement within the area of interest in addition to three elective courses related to the specialization.
Fall Semester
(16 credits) Spring Semester
(16 credits) Elective Course List
(choose one)
Clinical Elective Course List
(choose one)
Integrative Elective Course List
(choose one)
Note:
Students who opt to extend field instruction, completing 14 additional hours per week over the fall, spring, and summer, should enroll in SWK 778, 779 and 689. Students in extended field instruction will be charged an additional fee during the summer semester for continuation of matriculation and field instruction (SWK 689).
*SWK 710 is offered in Garden City only.
** and Integrative
*** and Clinical
Specializations:
Advanced year students complete a concentration in contemporary direct practice and also may select an optional area of specialization. Students may choose from one of four areas of specialization - Health Across the Life Course; Mental Health, Substance Use Disorders and Trauma in Context; Children & Families or Human Services Management and Organizational Leadership. Students who choose to specialize must select three elective courses within the area of specialization: one must be designated as an “integrative” elective course. Students will also be required to select a field placement in the advanced year of MSW study related to the specialization. Specializations appear transcript. Students who do not select a specialization, complete any three electives, one of which must be designated as an “integrative” elective course and one designated as a “clinical” elective course. Advanced year students will plan their field setting with the assistance of the field education staff.
Children and Families
This specialization prepares students for individual, family and group practice to promote the wellbeing of families and children. Students will develop an advanced understanding of a range of theories linked with policy, practice and advocacy, allowing for effective planning, implementation and evaluation.
The specialization draws from an array of related fields of practice, including child welfare, child development, school social work, family treatment, juvenile justice, youth services and community development, and prepares students for advanced work in a range of roles, settings and family systems. This organized program of study emphasizes the intersection of social, environmental and economic contexts in the lives of children and families, as well as in the work of professionals and their organizations.
Health across the Life Course
The Health across the Life Course specialization provides students with advanced skills and knowledge that is applicable to working across a wide range of settings, populations and fields of practice within the domain of health social work. Central to the conceptualization of the specialization is a life course perspective to prepare students to consider intersecting influences of historical, political, cultural, social, environmental and biological contexts on the experience of health, illness and disability at the level of individuals and communities. Courses in the specialization introduce relevant theories (e.g. human development, life course, health behaviors, social determinant of health, stress and coping) and research that prepares students to engage in social work practice from a health perspective. Students within this specialization attain competencies with a focus on integrating evidence-informed interventions, programs, and policies.
Mental Health, Substance Use Disorders, and Trauma in Context
This specialization provides students with an advanced understanding of the multiple factors that influence mental health and wellness, substance abuse, and trauma reactions. Students will develop advanced social work knowledge and skills necessary to assess, select interventions, advocate, and work with diverse, sometimes marginalized and stigmatized groups. Students will be able to select from a variety of courses that offer understanding of current knowledge that informs practice with specific populations and/or situations of individuals, families, groups and communities. Theories and their application to evidenced-based practice will be discussed. The importance of context in creating, defining, and addressing human needs and problems is emphasized
Human Services Management and Organizational Leadership
Leaders who can embrace sound management practices and incorporate social work values to help human service organizations accomplish their mission are in high demand. This specialization provides students with knowledge and skills for a variety of management and leadership roles in human service organizations. Students will learn about traditional and emerging leadership models and will acquire skills in such areas as grant writing, fundraising, budgeting and finance, program evaluation and research, supervision and staff development, board development and relations, and external advocacy, including legislative, issue-based, and inter-organizational advocacy.
The Hauppauge Center Master of Social Work (M.S.W) Program
The School of Social Work offers the M.S.W. degree at the Hauppauge Center, which is conveniently located in central Suffolk County, Long Island. Students may choose from full-time or part-time programs with classes offered on weekday evenings. All required courses are taught at the Center, except for SWK (0404) 710 - Social Work Assessment and Diagnosis which is offered as a blended class–that is, the class requires only four in-person sessions held at the Garden City campus, and the remainder of the sessions are taught online. The course is offered fall, spring and summer semesters on the Garden City campus. All courses offered in Hauppauge use the same syllabus and assignments as the courses offered on the main campus. Field placements are arranged by the Hauppauge Center’s assistant director of field education and are located throughout Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Onsite support services in Hauppauge include academic and field advisement, computer and library facilities, and registrar and student financial services.
The Graduate Admissions Office in Garden City, using the same criteria and procedures governing applications to the main campus, handles admission to the Hauppauge Center program centrally. All decisions regarding admissions are made by the coordinator of admissions in Garden City in consort with the School’s Admissions Committee
For inquiries specific to the Hauppauge Center, please contact:
Hauppauge Center
55 Kennedy Drive
Hauppauge, New York 11788
Sheila Edwards-Robinson, Director of Hauppauge Center Social Work Program
p – (516) 237-8608
e – sedwards-robinson@adelphi.edu
Hudson Valley Center Master of Social Work (M.S.W) Program
The School of Social Work offers the M.S.W. degree at the Hudson Valley Center, which is located in Poughkeepsie, New York. Students have the opportunity to pursue the master’s degree program by taking evening and/or Saturday classes. Students may attend part-time or full-time. All courses are taught at the Center except SWK (0404) 710 - Social Work Assessment and Diagnosis, which is offered as a blended class–that is, the class requires only four in-person sessions held at the Garden City campus, and the remainder of the sessions are taught online. The course is offered fall, spring and summer semesters on the Garden City campus. All courses offered in Hudson Valley use the same syllabus and assignments as the courses offered on the main campus. Field placements for first-and second-year students are arranged in agencies throughout the Hudson Valley region in a wide variety of professional settings. Onsite support services in Hudson Valley include academic and field advisement, computer and library facilities, and registrar and student financial services.
The Graduate Admissions Office in Garden City, using the same criteria and procedures governing applications to the main campus, handles admission to the Hudson Valley program centrally. All decisions regarding admissions are made by the coordinator of admissions in Garden City in consort with the School’s Admissions Committee.
For inquiries specific to the Hudson Valley Center, please contact:
Hudson Valley Center
19 Baker Avenue, Suite 400
Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12601
Ohiro Oni-Eseleh, Director of Hudson Valley Program
p – (845) 471-3348
e – oni-eseleh@adelphi.edu
Manhattan Center Master of Social Work (M.S.W) Program
The School of Social Work offers the M.S.W. degree at the Manhattan Center. Students have the opportunity to pursue the master’s degree program by taking evening and Saturday courses on a full-time or part-time basis. SWK (0404) 710 - Social Work Assessment and Diagnosis which is offered as a blended class–that is, the class requires only four in-person sessions held at the Garden City campus, and the remainder of the sessions are taught online. The course is offered fall, spring and summer semesters on the Garden City campus. All courses offered in Manhattan use the same syllabus and assignments as the courses offered on the main campus. Field placements for first-and second-year students are arranged in agencies throughout the New York City region in a wide variety of professional settings. Onsite support services in Manhattan include academic and field advisement, computer and library facilities, and registrar and student financial services.
Admission to the Manhattan program is handled centrally by the Admissions Office in Garden City using the same criteria and procedures governing applicants to the main campus. All decisions regarding admission are made by the Coordinator of Admissions in Garden City in concert with the School’s Admissions Committee.
For inquiries specific to the Manhattan Center, please contact:
Manhattan Center
75 Varick Street
New York, New York 10013
Andrew Peters, Director of Manhattan Center Social Work Program
p – (212) 965-8340, ext. 8358
e - apeters2@adelphi.edu
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